Midway council moves forward on Main Street zoning overhaul, orders work session

City planning staff presented a broad package of code changes intended to translate the Main Street goals in Midway’s general plan into zoning and development standards.

Planner Michael (staff) summarized recommendations that emerged from a field tour and the general plan: designate two types of commercial areas — a compact, walkable C‑3 zone near Town Square and a more spacious C‑2 rural commercial zone — and consider separate rules on permitted uses, parking requirements, landscaping and building form (fenestration, setbacks, building volume). Staff also suggested tools such as overlay zones or parcel‑specific development agreements for atypical proposals.

Councilmembers discussed specific options raised by staff: reducing parking requirements for historic buildings when shared public parking is available, allowing perpendicular parking in public right‑of‑way in select locations, tightening or removing certain commercial uses (for example, those that generate noise or heavy traffic), and using density incentives for deed‑restricted affordable housing. Multiple council members emphasized the need for clear map lines (street-based boundaries rather than arbitrary parcels) and flagged potential nonconforming uses (gas stations and other long‑standing businesses) that would remain under any new scheme.

The council asked staff to prepare a focused work session with draft maps and code language to decide: (1) exact locations for proposed C‑3 vs. C‑2 boundaries, (2) a list of permitted and conditional uses in each zone, (3) parking and landscaping standards, and (4) options for allowing limited residential uses in historic structures. Staff said it would bring back a draft for a workshop and then public hearings as required by state law.